MILAN - Goals from Cambiasso, Cordoba and Figo gave Inter a hard-earned 3-0 home win against Palermo and put the Nerazzurri within five points of Serie A leaders Juventus, who play Empoli in Week 21 on Sunday.

Inter broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark when Cordoba rose to flick a header from Figo's corner to Cambiasso, who headed in off the crossbar for his fifth Serie A goal this season.

Palermo's best opportunity of a reply in the opening forty-five fell to Barone whose shot from 20 yards took a deflection off Cambiasso, forcing Julio Cesar into a difficult save.

Adriano could have increased Inter's lead on the stroke of half time but had a near-range shot blocked by Terlizzi after Lupatelli failed to hold a Veron cross.

Julio Cesar kept out a Grosso free kick then Barone struck the post with a 20-yard shot as Palermo made an attacking start to the second half.

But the Nerazzurri soaked up the pressure and hit back at the Sicilians, Lupatelli blocking a terrific first-time effort from Kily Gonzalez then saving a diagonal shot by Adriano before the Brazilian headed round a Figo cross.

Ivan Cordoba went from provider to scorer on 77 minutes when he rose to head in a cross by Luis Figo, who three minutes later wrapped up Inter's sixth consecutive home victory in the league with an inswinging free kick from the left that went in at the far post.